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Blast Waves in Free Air
Author(s) -
Held M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.56
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1521-4087
pISSN - 0721-3115
DOI - 10.1002/prep.19830080102
Subject(s) - overpressure , detonation , impulse (physics) , explosive material , mechanics , vibration , blast wave , pulse duration , shock wave , acoustics , physics , classical mechanics , chemistry , thermodynamics , optics , laser , organic chemistry
Simple equations are given which can be used for calculating the approximate values of peak overpressure and positive phase impulse of blast waves generated by the detonation of military high explosive charges in the free atmosphere. To the practitioner, these equations may be useful in the quick and simple design of protective systems, or in calculating the amount of explosive required to achieve a certain desired effect. Moreover, an outline is given of the derivation of simple equations for the damaging effect of blast waves as a function of distance and charge weight. A useful formula, which had been given by Westine, encompasses the following three main causes of a damaging effect: peak overpressure, if the blast duration is long as compared to the natural vibration period of the target structure; pressure impulse, if the blast duration is short as compared to the natural vibration period of the target structure; product of peak overpressure multiplied by impulse in the intermediate range, i.e., if the duration of the pressure pulse is comparable to the natural vibration period of the target structure.